31 reasons to smile as Lancashire pulls together in hard times

Billy in Moss Side taking part in a new scheme to get food to those most in need (Image: PA)

Sign up to FREE email alerts from LancsLive - daily

When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. OurPrivacy Noticeexplains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Communities have been coming together during the coronavirus pandemic.

On Holcombe Road, in Accrington, neighbours have even started to dress in fancy dress costumes each Thursday.

Usually themes are selected at random, but most recently, the street came together to celebrate Captain Tom Moore's 100th birthday.

4. Local business donates £250k to Royal Preston Hospital

James Hall and Company Limited donated £250,000 to Royal Preston Hospital

A local business has donated £250,000 to Royal Preston Hospital.

The donation, made on behalf of James Hall and Company Limited, Spar Distribution Centre for the North of England, will enable the hospital to realise its ambition to transfer out of date facilities into a state of the art area for staff to unwind, relax and in some cases catch up on much needed sleep.

The scheme will include refurbished male and female showers, cubicles and lockers, sleep “PODS” for staff who have been working long shifts and are too tired to drive home safely, and an indoor relaxation area complete with sofas.

There will also be yoga mats and tea and coffee making facilities, a refurbished breast feeding room and an outdoor patio area with table and chairs so that staff can unwind in the fresh air.

5. Kind-hearted pair deliver food to vulnerable people during lockdown

Jess Lomas and Claire McGlone have been delivering food to vulnerable people across Earby and Barnoldswick

Two women have adapted their catering business into a food delivery service during lockdown.

Jess Lomas and Claire McGlone have been delivering as many as 70 delicious and nutritious meals to vulnerable people across Earby and Barnoldswick twice a week.

The pair started their catering business by creating a luncheon club at the Earby community centre more than four years ago to help provide meals to vulnerable people.

The luncheon club has been a success, but when the lockdown was imposed, the pair, with the help of a volunteer, sprang into action and started to deliver food to the homes to their 30 regulars.

In a matter of weeks, they have more than doubled the amount of meals they are making as the demand from vulnerable people increased.

6. Rossendale nurse raises almost £60k to allow coronavirus patients to speak with their families

Leona Harris, a nurse from Rossendale

A Rossendale nurse has raised almost £60,000 to buy iPads to allow coronavirus patients to speak with their loved ones.

Leona Harris decided to do this after witnessing some patients being unable to speak with friends and family on the sealed off wards and people dying without any contact.

She posted an appeal on social media and was inundated with offers of help and pleas from other desperate nurses to get hold of an iPad for their wards.

Leona launched a #staytogether campaign and in less than a week she raised £30k and bought 70 iPads.

She has since raised another £28,000 online on a Just Giving page and will be using the extra monies to buy more iPads.

7. Lancaster girl makes face masks for local community

Matilda Gleeson has made almost 400 face masks

An 11-year-old girl from Lancaster made almost 400 face masks during the coronavirus pandemic.

Matilda Gleeson started to make the masks soon after schools were suspended due to the Covid-19 lockdown.

She is a member of a sewing club for children, and has distributed 400 masks locally free of charge.

The year six pupil is instead asking for donations to be made to Morecambe Bay Foodbank.

All cash donations are collected in a money box. So far, £314.67 has been donated to the worthy cause.

8. Lancaster nurse back at work after 'beating' coronavirus

Kirk Panter has recovered from coronavirus

A Lancaster nurse has returned to work after 'beating' coronavirus.

Kirk Panter retired from University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust in 2019 and now does shifts for the Trust after being tested early for the virus.

The 60-year-old had been concerned about his chances of surviving coronavirus due to his age, weight and certain medical conditions.

Kirk is now someone that hospital teams can call on when needed.

Since recovering from Covid-19, he has done a couple of shifts on the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the RLI.

9. David Moyes is delivering food parcels to people in Lytham

David Moyes has been helping out by delivering food parcels in Lancashire (Image: PA)

David Moyes spent his new-found free time delivering food parcels to people in Lytham after returning from London.

It came after he visited his local food shop and noticed an advertisement in the window, asking for volunteer drivers.

He decided to become a delivery driver, taking parcels to those who needed them.

Moyes says that he respected the physical distancing rules during his four days behind the wheel, with no autographs or conversations on the doorstep.

The new NHS Heroes Hub is located at Fulwood Central Retail Park, and was set up by Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Charity based at Royal Preston Hospital and Preston’s Muslim community.

Fruit and veg, toiletries, bread and more - all free of charge - are on offer for NHS staff, donated by local businesses, church groups and the local community.

The idea came about after the owner of the retail development offered the use of a free unit, which is 30m by 18m wide.

It is hoped to make a difference to the NHS heroes who are "working tirelessly for us each and every day" amid the coronavirus pandemic.

11. Milkman gives up day job to deliver food during lockdown

A milkman from Colne gave up his day job to deliver food to those who are most vulnerable during lockdown.

Billy Holgate, 23, decided to get involved in an initiative funded by Manchester City Council which teams up local food charity, The Bread and Butter Thing (TBBT) with dairy delivery firm, The Modern Milkman.

The aim is to get food to those who are most in need.

Each household gets three or four bags of fruit and veg, chilled food and canned goods, donated by supermarkets and delivered by milkmen.

12. Lancaster University worker creates home production line making 3D face shields

Chris Gavin has spent lockdown organising food deliveries for some of Preston's most vulnerable people

A man from Preston has delivered more than 1,500 hot meals to the city's homeless, isolated, and NHS workers.

Chris Gavin, a self-employed groundworker, has himself fallen on hard times as a result of the economic downturn during the Covid-19 crisis.

But he is using the period to spread some much-needed help to others in need, saying no one should be going hungry despite the extreme circumstances.

The Preston community rallied around to help Chris, with businesses and volunteers getting involved to give up their time through cooking in their professional kitchens, donating food, and delivering the food to those in need.

14. UCLan waived all third semester accommodation fees for students

UCLan

The University of Central Lancashire is waiving third semester accommodation fees for students.

This applies to students who have a UCLan accommodation contract.

The decision was made as part of the University’s on-going plan to support students during the coronavirus pandemic.

The fee waiver applies to students, regardless of whether they have already moved out of halls or continue to live there, and means that the April rent instalments will not now be payable.

15. Emergency services pay tribute to NHS staff

Video Loading

Video Unavailable

Click to playTap to play

The video will start in8Cancel

Play now

Police vehicles lined the car park outside Royal Preston Hospital and flashed their blue lights in salute of the NHS.

Officers took care to stand apart from each other as they applauded the health service.

Hospital staff and those nearby also joined in the applause outside the hospital as part of the 'Clap for Carers' national campaign.

It sees people across the country take a moment at 8pm on Thursday evening to clap, cheer and bang their pots and pans in appreciation for those on the frontline.

16. Preston lecturers created lifesaving equipment for people with coronavirus

These adaptors, which are created using 3D printers, will enable Covid-19 patients to get the oxygen supply they need without the need of highly sought-after hospital ventilators (Image: UCLan)

Two Preston lecturers have created potentially lifesaving equipment for coronavirus patients after using 3D printers to invent and create new breathing adaptors.

Dr Steve Sigurnjak, a senior lecturer in electronic engineering, and Dr Matthew Dickinson, a senior lecturer in mechanical engineering, can usually be seen in the corridors of the University of Central Lancashire.

But the duo are currently working from their own homes where they have designed and created three brackets which will allow breathing masks to be attached to viral filters.

These adaptors, which are created using 3D printers, will enable Covid-19 patients to get the oxygen supply they need - without the need of highly sought-after hospital ventilators.

17. Tyson Fury thanked bin men in Lancashire for working under lockdown

Tyson Fury thanks bin men from Lancaster City Council (Image: Tyson Fury)

Tyson Fury said thank you to his local bin men for the work they keep doing while the country is in total lockdown.

The boxing world champion tagged in the council's official Instagram account as well as writing 'Local Bin Men' on the screen with a thumbs up emoji.

He told his 3.7 million followers: "I'd just like to give a big shout out to the unsung heroes - the local bin men of everybody's area.

"My local bin men today in Lancashire, fantastic job you do, thank you very much for what you do.

"All the best, god bless."

18. Nelson charity distributed 'Covid-19 packs' to homeless

HNCO based in Burnley have been handing out hygiene packs to the homeless.

A charity based in Nelson produce and hand out coronavirus hygiene kits to rough sleepers.

Hajjah Naziha Charitable Organisation (HNCO) attend weekly and bi-weekly food handouts in Burnley and Manchester, feeding the homeless and providing them with a friendly face to interact with.

During the Covid-19 outbreak, the charity has had a huge drive to produce and hand out coronavirus hygiene kits to rough sleepers, to help them stay safe as the virus takes hold of Britain.

But the charity are finding their movements hampered by the lockdown sanctions forced through by the government and fear that they will soon be unable to hand out food and hygiene kits.

19. Morecambe girl aims to read 90 books before she turns nine

Lola Coldwell has pledged to read 90 books before she celebrates her ninth birthday

A Morecambe girl has pledged to read 90 books before she celebrates her ninth birthday on August 11.

Lola Coldwell says she came up with the idea after being inspired by Colonel Tom Moore's fundraising efforts.

The now-eight-year-old has taken on the challenge to raise money for Morecambe Bay Foodbank.

Each book read by Lola will be at least 90 pages long - so far she has raised over £900.

20. 'Stay safe' balloon released in Preston found in Southport garden

A balloon released in Preston was found in Ainsdale

A 'stay safe' balloon released in Preston was found in the garden of a home in Southport.

The balloon was set off by nine-year-old Thomas on May 4 and was found in Ainsdale on May 5.

The resident took to Facebook to share her discovery and to thank Thomas for 'brightening up her morning'.

The post said: "Hi Thomas from Preston. This morning, your balloon landed at our house in Ainsdale!

"We’re at home, staying safe and hope that you and your family are too.

"Your message really brightened up my morning and made me smile."

21. Hospital staff self-isolating or living away from family provided with essential items

Packs of essential items being delivered to staff at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust

Hospital staff at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust are being provided with an essential pack of items.

This is available to staff who are self-isolating or living away from their family, and has been provided by businesses.

Booths in Kirkby Lonsdale and in Scotforth, Tesco Extra in Barrow and Morrison’s have donated toiletries for the packs including deodorant, toothbrushes and toothpaste, shampoo, shower gel and sanitary products.

Primark in Lancaster has also donated 125 packs which include items such as pyjamas and socks.

22. Blackpool hospital staff celebrate patient's 90th birthday

A Blackpool hospital patient with no family has celebrated his 90th birthday.

To mark the occasion, staff at Blackpool Victoria Hospital planned a celebration for the patient, named Richard.

Staff presented the 90-year-old man with a cake in his hospital bed.

As he has no family, the hospital decided to make his birthday 'a little special'.

23. Four-year-old girl pledged to run 11km for NHS

Florence Harrison, from Lytham-St-Annes, has pledged to run 11km to raise money for NHS

A four-year-old girl from Lytham-St-Annes has pledged to run 11km to raise money for NHS Charity Blue Skies Hospitals Fund.

Florence Harrison began the challenge with her dad, Paul Harrison, 37, and has raised £1,300 so far.

Her mum Chloe, 34, said the idea came from Florence wanting to “beat the bugs” and do a good deed.

Chloe explained that it seems like the perfect cause to raise money for during these hard times and even Florence’s little sister Ophelia, 2, is keen to get involved.

The cause is close to their hearts with two family members working on the frontline. Paul works in the fire service and the girls Auntie works at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

24. The 'rainbow' house and garden in Accrington

Colour house on Manchester Road, Baxenden which belongs to Andrea Elleray

A teacher who has been confined to her home since January has created a spectacular rainbow house and garden.

Andrea Elleray, who teaches textiles at Heathlands Private School in Accrington, dressed her home and garden using recycled and upcycled carrier bags, bottles and keys lying around the house.

So far, the rainbow garden has spread joy to passers-by walking past her home on Manchester Road, Baxenden.

Andrea says the feedback she has had from the community has been overwhelmingly positive, and says she only started doing it to keep herself occupied as she is currently unable to teach.

She began sharing photos of her creations on social media pages and they attracted hundreds of shares and positive comments, as well as new visitors.

Andrea has also been inundated with thank you cards and gifts - including wine, a rainbow candle, and a rainbow cake - from neighbours she had never met, as well as donations of ‘artwork materials’ including a bag of tights, plastic bottles and even a bench.

The emotional moment the family left hospital (Image: Blackpool Teaching Hospitals)

A mother and newborn baby who were both diagnosed with coronavirus have been discharged safely Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

Baby Ruby Dawson, the region’s youngest Coivd-19 baby, left Hospital with her mum Katherine and her dad Stuart and they were cheered by a staff guard of honour.

Katherine was just 32-weeks pregnant when she was taken to A&E in March with what she thought was a chest infection. As she had been self-isolating for three weeks she did not think she had caught COVID-19.

But after a swab, she tested positive and a decision was made to deliver the baby by caesarean section to give them both the best chance.

Ruby was born on April 1 weighing 4lb 12oz and was also COVID-19 positive - one of the only babies worldwide to be born with the virus.

But the family’s coronavirus nightmare finally came to an end when they walked through an NHS staff guard of honour and into their car to take Ruby home to be with her two sisters in Garstang.